Composition for preservative treatment of fresh fruit



lee-4s ratentecl June UHTED STATE PAT ERNEST M. BROGDEN, OF SANTA MONICA, AND MILES L. TROWBRIDGE, OF PALMS, GALI- FORNIA, ASSIGNORS T0 BROGDEX COMPANY, OF WINTER HAVEN, FLORIDA, A COR- PORATION OF FLORIDA COMPOSITION FOR IPRESERVATIVE TREATMENT OF FRESH FRUIT 1\To Drawing.

This invention relates to compositions for preservative treatment of fresh fruit; and in particular it relates to wax-containing compositions useful when spread in a thin film-like continuous coating over the surface of fresh fruit to preserve the same in sound, plump, unwithered condition, and in substantial degree also to protect the fruit against infection from external sources.

Generally described, the novel composition of the invention comprises waxy mate- 'rial, such as a good commercial grade of paraffin wax associated with a phenolic moldretarder and also, most desirably, with a solvent of suitable character, such as a relatively light mineral oil. A mold-retarder of the phenol type is well adapted for use in a composition of this character, although it is not well adapted ordinarily for direct application to fruit in the absence of associated wax or the like, because, when used without accompanying wax or oil, it is apt to burn or scald the fruit. Of the various phenols available for use in practicing this phase of the invention, the higher monohydric phenols are found to afford advantages rendering them distinctly superior to ordinary phenol, cresol, and the like. Phenols of the xylenol type, and mixtures of these with aromatic hydrocarbons such as the xylols, we have found after long investigation to exercise remarkable specific inhibiting action upon the development of blue mold and blue mold spores, while at the same time they are non-toxic to humans; and when blue mold spores are added to compositions containing a relatively small amount of such a phenolic agent, the spores do not develop but become permanently inactive. In practice it has been found desirable to employ for this purpose a commercial product obtained in the distillation of coal tar and known as high coefficiency acid. This contains phenols consisting largely of xylenols, together with aromatic hydrocarbons such as xylol and the like. The potency of this product as a disinfectant and fungicide varies somewhat, but its phenol coefficient as determined by the U. S. Hygienic Labortary method is invariably greater than 5 and usually as high as 10 or 12.

Application filed March 2, 1925. Serial No. 12,776.

The novel protective composition may or may not include constitutents other than those above mentioned. It is sometimes advantageous for the composition to take the form of an emulsion-like coating mixture, and in such case the composition may include a substantial percentage of water and an appropriate emulsifying agent.

As typical of the novel composition when prepared in the form of an emulsion as just referred to, the following formula-range may be given as an illustrative example:

Paraflin wax Refined light mineral oil of the kerosene type 30 to 50 per cent An emulsifying agent,

such as a mixture of eight parts of cocoanut oil and one part of borax up to 10 per cent A phenolic mold retarder of the xylenol type up to 10 per cent Water the remainder.

The refined light mineral oil of the kerosene type, referred to in the foregoing table, may in a typical instance be a petroleum distillate having a specific gravity of about 0.810, a flash point of about 149 F and an approximate boiling range of 360 to 486 F. It is to 5 to 20 per cent be understood that the composition of the in- ,ly refined low-viscosity white mineral oil,

which is odorless, tasteless and colorless, together with a small percentage of a phenolic mold-retarder of the character described. Such a white mineral oil may have, for example, a specific gravity of about 0.840, a vistreatment of fruit, a very small quantity of the composition should be applied to the fruit and then spread over the entire surface of the fruit in a continuous and extremely thin film as by thoroughly rubbing the fruit. In practice this treatment can be efiectively carried out by warming the composition if necessary to ive it sufficient fluidity to enable spraying or tomizing it, and then directing a fine jet 0 the liquid composition upon the fruit, afte which the small amount of coating composition thus applied can be spread over the fruit to give a protective film coating of the desired extreme thinness by subjecting the fruit to the rubbing and brushing action of rapid- 1y revolvi lgl Ql}?!i f....Iolls. This general method of procedure is fully described in our prior copending application Serial No. 657 ,215, filed August 13, 1923, of which the present application is a continuation, and requires no further description here.

In preparing the novel composition the paraffin wax may be melted, and the light mineral oil is also desirably heated to somewhat above the melting point of the wax. Streams of the two warm liquids are simultaneously run into a container and the mixture stirred well. The phenolic retarder may be added at this stage, and the agitation continued, desirably in an emulsifier or homogenizer, until the mixture has cooled to room temperature. If the composition is to include water and an emulsifying agent, these may be added before the final agitation.

What we claim is:

1. As a new composition of matter, a mixture non-toxic to humans and comprising paraffin, a refined mineral oil and a phenolic constituent of the xylenol type, said mixture being of spreadable consistency at ordinary temperature.

2. As a new composition of matter, a mixture non-toxic to humans and comprising paraffin, a refined mineral oil and a phenolic constituent having a phenol coefficient of at least 5, said mixture being of spreadable consistency at ordinary temperatures.

8. As a new composition of matter, a mixture non-toxic to humans and comprising parafiin, a refined mineral oil and a phenolic constituent having a phenol coeflicient of at least;

10, said mixture being of spreadable consist- "5 ency at ordinary temperatures.

4. As a new compositlon of matter, a mixture non-toxlc to humans and comprising .paraifin, a refined mineral oil and a fungicidal agent that includes xylenol and xylol. I

5. As a new composition of matter, a mixture non-toxic to humans and comprising parafl'in, a refined mineral oil and high coefiiciency acid derived from coal tar distillation.

6. As a new composition of matter, an emulsion-like mixture non-toxic to humans and comprising parafiin 5 to 20 per cent, a refined light mineral oil of the kerosene type 30 to 50 per cent, an emulsifying agent comprising borax and cent, and water the remainder.

In testimony whereof we hereunto aflix our signatures.

ERNEST M. BROGDEN. MILES L. TROWBRIDGE.

h ail up to 10 cent, 'plieiiolic mold-retau er upi tbTO iY lea 

